Republican negotiators have slipped into the tax bill a provision that would exempt Hillsdale College, a leading conservative college in Michigan, from an excise tax on schools.
Republican negotiators have slipped into the tax bill a provision that would exempt Hillsdale College, a leading conservative college in Michigan, from an excise tax on schools with more than 500 students or large endowments.
The GOP amendment making final changes to the tax bill includes language sponsored by Sens. Pat Toomey Patrick (Pat) Joseph ToomeyNewly declassified memos detail extent of improper Obama-era NSA spying Overnight Tech: FCC won’t fine Colbert over Trump joke| Trump budget slashes science funding| Net neutrality comment period opens Appeals court decision keeps lawsuit against NSA surveillance alive MORE (R-Pa.) and Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzTop GOP senators say they have the votes to pass tax bill Cruz ‘angry’ at not guilty verdict in Kate Steinle case: ‘Justice must be served’ Cruz on whether Senate should expel Moore if he wins: ‘Of course not’ MORE (R-Texas) that would exempt any university that does not accept federal financial aid under Title IV of the Higher Education Act from excise taxes, Democratic aides said.
Hillsdale College is the only college or university that meets this definition, according to Democratic sources.
Senate Democrats hammered Toomey on Friday night over the proposed amendment, arguing it would specifically benefit the conservative college in Michigan.
For example, Erik Prince, the brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos Elizabeth (Betsy) Dee DeVosErik Prince testifies before House Intelligence Committee DeVos on Trump ‘Pocahontas’ comment: We should ‘reflect on the things we say before we say them’ AG Sessions to face House panel in closed-door hearing MORE, graduated from Hillsdale in 1992.
Hillsdale graduates who joined the Trump administration include Josh Venable, chief of staff at the Department of Education; David Morrell, associate counsel to the president; Trump speechwriter Brittany Baldwin, and Stephen Ford, a speech writer for Vice President Pence.
A spokesperson for Toomey, the sponsor of the bill, did not immediately return a request for comment.
Spokespersons for the Senate Finance Committee did not respond immediately either.
